Venetta Fields

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Venetta Fields is an American singer best known as session musician for leading rock and pop acts of the 1970s including Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, and the Rolling Stones. Since 1982 she has lived in Australia.

Born in Buffalo, New York, into a religious family, Fields' early musical training came through regular gospel performances at church, and also inspiration from US singer Aretha Franklin. Her singing career officially began with The Templaires, a group she formed with members of her church, followed by The Corinthian Gospel Singers. In late 1961 Ike and Tina Turner Revue were playing in Buffalo and Fields heard there was an opening for a new member of Tina's backing vocalists The Ikettes. With a successful audition Fields joined immediately. In addition to backing Tina in performance and on recordings, Venetta recorded on many singles by The Ikettes (including "Peaches and Cream") and was given some solo songs on live recordings. Ike moved his base to Los Angeles and in 1966 Venetta left the revue, along with fellow Ikettes Jessie Smith and Robbie Montgomery. The trio signed to Mirwood Records and they became The Mirettes from 1966-1970. Ike hired some new Ikettes.

From about 1969, along with fellow vocalists Clydie King and Sherlie Matthews, Fields quickly became one of the most sought-after backing singers in the US, working with artists including Diana Ross, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, Burt Bacharach, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, Neil Diamond, Bob Seger, Tim Buckley, Paul Butterfield, Leonard Cohen and also with Aretha Franklin; her mentor and inspiration. Notable performances during this time included the Dark Side of the Moon Tour with Pink Floyd, and recording the Rolling Stones' album Exile on Main St.

In about 1971 Venetta, Clydie and Sherlie formed The Blackberries, with Sherlie as producer/songwriter as well as vocalist. In 1972 Steve Marriott asked them to record and tour with UK hard rock band Humble Pie, and produced an unreleased Blackberries LP with Humble Pie as the backing band. The Blackberries and Humble Pie parted company in 1973.

Fields and King appeared as Barbra Streisand's backing singers (The Oreos) in the 1976 film A Star is Born.

Following a tour to Australia in the late 1970s with Boz Scaggs, Fields decided to relocate permanently in 1982. In the years that followed, she continued to work with US artists when they toured Australia including George Benson, Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand, Thelma Houston and Randy Crawford, and also with leading Australian artists, including Richard Clapton, Australian Crawl, Jimmy Barnes, James Morrison and, most famously, with John Farnham. Fields formed a new group in Melbourne in mid '80s, Venetta's Taxi, which performed regularly as backing for local and touring artists.

It was in Australia that Fields made her theatre debut; starring as Alice in Big River. Receiving rave reviews for this performance, she soon became increasingly involved in music theatre. Productions in which Fields has appeared to date include Blues in the Night, Chess (concert version), two plays for the Melbourne Theatre Company - The Crucible and The Racing Demon - and as Ruby in Buddy The Musical (The Buddy Holly Story). During this time she also formed and toured her own show, Gospel Jubilee.

Currently residing on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Fields is still active as a singer and songwriter. In 2002, she received the Australian Gospel Singer of the Year award, and recently released her latest album, At Last. Fields is also active as a vocal coach, with several students including 2005 Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo.

In recognition of her achievements, Fields was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame on September 29th, 2005.